How Much Does It Cost to Start a Beauty Supply Store?
Last updated: March 2026
National Average
Low
$30,000
Medium
$100,000
High
$300,000
A retail store selling professional and consumer beauty products including hair care, cosmetics, nail supplies, and salon equipment.
Time to Launch
2-5 months
Profit Margins
20-35%
Break-Even Timeline
12-24 months
Interactive Cost Calculator
Select a state below to see state-adjusted costs.
Startup Cost Calculator
Beauty Supply Store in Nationally
Budget:
$35,000
$50,000
$15,000
$3,000
$800
$3,000
$4,000
$4,000
Options
Employees:
One-Time Costs
$114,800
Monthly Costs
$0
First Year Total
$114,800
Startup Costs by State
| State | Low | Medium | High | LLC Fee | Sales Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $25,500 | $85,000 | $255,000 | $50 | 7.0% |
| West Virginia | $25,800 | $86,000 | $258,000 | $100 | 6.0% |
| Alabama | $26,400 | $88,000 | $264,000 | $200 | 4.0% |
| Arkansas | $26,700 | $89,000 | $267,000 | $45 | 6.5% |
| Oklahoma | $26,700 | $89,000 | $267,000 | $100 | 4.5% |
| Kansas | $27,000 | $90,000 | $270,000 | $160 | 6.5% |
| Indiana | $27,300 | $91,000 | $273,000 | $95 | 7.0% |
| Iowa | $27,300 | $91,000 | $273,000 | $50 | 6.0% |
| Michigan | $27,300 | $91,000 | $273,000 | $50 | 6.0% |
| Nebraska | $27,300 | $91,000 | $273,000 | $105 | 5.5% |
| Ohio | $27,300 | $91,000 | $273,000 | $99 | 5.8% |
| Kentucky | $27,600 | $92,000 | $276,000 | $40 | 6.0% |
| Louisiana | $27,600 | $92,000 | $276,000 | $100 | 4.5% |
| Missouri | $27,600 | $92,000 | $276,000 | $50 | 4.2% |
| Tennessee | $27,600 | $92,000 | $276,000 | $300 | 7.0% |
| Texas | $27,600 | $92,000 | $276,000 | $300 | 6.3% |
| Georgia | $28,200 | $94,000 | $282,000 | $100 | 4.0% |
| Illinois | $28,500 | $95,000 | $285,000 | $150 | 6.3% |
| New Mexico | $28,500 | $95,000 | $285,000 | $50 | 5.1% |
| Wisconsin | $28,500 | $95,000 | $285,000 | $130 | 5.0% |
| North Carolina | $28,800 | $96,000 | $288,000 | $125 | 4.8% |
| South Carolina | $28,800 | $96,000 | $288,000 | $110 | 6.0% |
| South Dakota | $29,100 | $97,000 | $291,000 | $150 | 4.5% |
| Minnesota | $29,400 | $98,000 | $294,000 | $155 | 6.9% |
| North Dakota | $29,700 | $99,000 | $297,000 | $135 | 5.0% |
| Wyoming | $30,000 | $100,000 | $300,000 | $100 | 4.0% |
| Nevada | $30,600 | $102,000 | $306,000 | $425 | 6.8% |
| Arizona | $30,900 | $103,000 | $309,000 | $50 | 5.6% |
| Florida | $30,900 | $103,000 | $309,000 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Idaho | $30,900 | $103,000 | $309,000 | $100 | 6.0% |
| Pennsylvania | $30,900 | $103,000 | $309,000 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Delaware | $31,200 | $104,000 | $312,000 | $110 | 0.0% |
| Virginia | $31,200 | $104,000 | $312,000 | $100 | 4.3% |
| Colorado | $31,800 | $106,000 | $318,000 | $50 | 2.9% |
| Montana | $31,800 | $106,000 | $318,000 | $70 | 0.0% |
| Utah | $31,800 | $106,000 | $318,000 | $54 | 4.8% |
| Oregon | $33,600 | $112,000 | $336,000 | $100 | 0.0% |
| Vermont | $33,600 | $112,000 | $336,000 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Maine | $34,200 | $114,000 | $342,000 | $175 | 5.5% |
| Rhode Island | $34,800 | $116,000 | $348,000 | $150 | 7.0% |
| New Hampshire | $35,100 | $117,000 | $351,000 | $102 | 0.0% |
| Washington | $35,400 | $118,000 | $354,000 | $200 | 6.5% |
| Connecticut | $35,700 | $119,000 | $357,000 | $120 | 6.3% |
| New Jersey | $37,500 | $125,000 | $375,000 | $125 | 6.6% |
| Alaska | $38,100 | $127,000 | $381,000 | $250 | 0.0% |
| Maryland | $38,700 | $129,000 | $387,000 | $100 | 6.0% |
| California | $40,500 | $135,000 | $405,000 | $70 | 7.3% |
| New York | $41,700 | $139,000 | $417,000 | $200 | 4.0% |
| Massachusetts | $45,000 | $150,000 | $450,000 | $500 | 6.3% |
| Hawaii | $57,900 | $193,000 | $579,000 | $50 | 4.0% |
Cheapest & Most Expensive States
5 Cheapest States
- Mississippi$85,000
- West Virginia$86,000
- Alabama$88,000
- Arkansas$89,000
- Oklahoma$89,000
5 Most Expensive States
- Hawaii$193,000
- Massachusetts$150,000
- New York$139,000
- California$135,000
- Maryland$129,000
Frequently Asked Questions
Opening a beauty supply store costs $30,000 to $300,000. A small store focused on a narrow product range can open for $30,000-$70,000 with modest inventory. A full-service beauty supply store with comprehensive hair, nail, and cosmetics inventory in a well-trafficked location typically costs $80,000-$200,000.
Apply directly to distributors and manufacturers with your reseller permit and business license. Key wholesale distributors include Beauty Systems Group (BSG), CosmoProf, and brand-specific distributors. Some brands like OPI and Joico restrict professional sales and require proof of salon affiliation.
Beauty supply stores achieve 20-35% gross margins on most products. Net margins run 5-15% after rent, labor, and theft. A store grossing $400,000/year can net $20,000-$60,000. Professional-focused stores that capture salon reorders have more consistent revenue than pure consumer retail.
Start with the highest-demand categories: shampoos and conditioners, hair color, relaxers and texturizers, hair extensions and wigs, nail care products, professional tools (blow dryers, flat irons), and cosmetics. Stock multiple price points in each category. Interview local salon owners about what they buy most.
Independents win through: (1) professional product access that consumer stores don't carry, (2) better ethnic hair care selection, (3) knowledgeable staff who can advise on products, (4) relationships with local salon owners for bulk reorders, and (5) specialty categories like hair extensions, wigs, and cultural hair care products.
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